Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has ruled out the prospect of early elections, saying the current political and international climate leaves no room for destabilizing scenarios.

In an interview with La Repubblica, Crosetto said a snap vote would be more problematic for the opposition than for the governing center-right coalition. “I think early elections would scare the broad center-left camp more than the center-right, given the way they are moving and the total differences between them,” he said.

Still, the minister made clear that elections are not the issue that should dominate the political agenda right now. According to Crosetto, the sense of responsibility required by the current moment means the government must stay focused on managing the multiple crises already underway.

He also spoke openly about the pressure of his role amid the current international tensions, describing the war and its possible consequences as a constant source of concern. “I live with this war and its possible consequences 24 hours a day. I am forced to know things that no longer let me sleep,” he said, warning that the coming weeks could bring serious repercussions for both the economy and everyday life.

Crosetto also responded to the political and judicial controversies surrounding the government, rejecting the idea that they amount to a political defeat for the executive. Instead, he said he sees them as a defeat for justice and for certain democratic values.